No one’s sure if synthetic mirror life will kill us all
For four days in February 2019, some 30 synthetic biologists and ethicists hunkered down at a conference center in Northern…
Tag: chemistry
What’s the best way to build a molecular machine?
Some of the smallest, most useful machines known to science are the biological molecules that keep living things living. The…
Burning to learn
In central California’s Yosemite National Park, it doesn’t take much to set the forest on fire. A discarded cigarette.…
The smell of old people
When most people talk about “old people smell,” they’re complaining about something unpleasant. But in a new study, scientists report…
Meat from scratch
If all goes according to Mark Post’s plan, he will appear on television in October and devour a hamburger…
Self-cleaning clothes
Cleaning clothes usually requires soap and water to remove stains and smells, and a tumble in the dryer or an…
Drugs with Bad Vibes
Question: Which has the biggest impact on global warming: A coal-fired power plant, 1,000,000 cars, or the global total…
Sea Changes
Every day, the ocean absorbs about 22 million tons of carbon dioxide, which is about the weight of 15 million…